The Winery of Good Hope

The Winery of Good Hope sits on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain in Stellenbosch, sharing a cellar with its sister label Radford Dale — two brands, one team, and a philosophy rooted in minimal intervention and chemical-free farming that has been an industry leader since the 1990s.

The story begins with Alex Dale, an Englishman who grew up spending summers in Burgundy and moved there in his late teens to follow a passion for wine. He opened a wine bar in Beaune and lived in the region for years before relocating to South Africa in 1998. There, he partnered with Australian Ben Radford to establish Radford Dale, a label that quickly earned a reputation for terroir-driven wines made with a distinctly Burgundian sensibility. The Winery of Good Hope emerged as the house range — a more accessible collection sourced from the Helderberg, Elgin, and the Swartland's Perderberg area, designed to deliver the same attention to detail and minimal-intervention approach at a friendlier price point.

The wine range is structured around vineyard expression. The Bush Vine Chenin Blanc, sourced from old untrellised vines, was rated sixth in the international top 100 Best Buys by Wine Enthusiast in 2006 — the first and only South African producer in the top ten, with 91 points. The Mountainside Syrah draws from decomposed granite soils on the Helderberg mountain slopes overlooking False Bay, while the Oceanside Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blends fruit from carefully selected sea-facing vineyards across the Coastal Region. An Unoaked Chardonnay and a Full Berry Fermentation Pinotage round out the core range.

Social responsibility is woven into the operation. Alex Dale is a founding member of PIWOSA (Premium Independent Wineries of South Africa), which sets ethical, environmental, and social uplift standards for its members. The team has also established the Land of Hope Trust, focused on facilitating education and bright futures for children in South Africa's wine-producing communities.

The cellar operates with two distinct facilities — one in the Helderberg and the other an organic estate in Elgin — and produces wines under three brands: Radford Dale (flagship), Vinum (second label), and The Winery of Good Hope (house range). Despite being entry-level in price, the Good Hope wines carry no less quality or attention than anything else from this fiercely independent operation.